Draft-rigging for cars.



No. 044,041. y Patented Feb. 20, |900.

w. cAsE.

DRAFT BIGGING FOR CARS.

(Application filed May 21, 1897.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet vI.v

WITNESSES INVENTQR mi Nomus PEfzRs cd., PNOTOUTHQ.. WASHINGTON, D. C.

No. 644,04l. Patented Feb. 2o, |900.

`w.cAs|-:.

DRAFT B'IGGING FR GARS.

Q. (Applicatiog led May 21, 1897.)

(N o M o d e 2 Sheets--Sheet 2,.

wlT'NEssEs I `mnlEN-rvl MM mm@ @ma UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VILLIAM CASE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE NATIONAL MALLEABLECASTINGS COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

DRAFT-RIGGING FOR CARS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters 'Patent No. 644,041, dated February20, 1900.

Application filed May 21, 1897. Serial No. 637,548. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM CASE, of Chicago, in the county of Cook andState of Illinois, have/vented a new and useful Improvement in DraftRiggings for Cars, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, forming`part of this specication, in which- Figure 1 is a View, partly in bottomplan and partly in horizontal section, illustrating my improved device.Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line II II of Fig. 1.Figs. 3 and 4 are vertical cross-sections on the lines III III and IVIV, respectively, of Fig. 1; and` Figs. 5 and 6 show in section theapplication of my invention to a single spring and to tandem springs,respectively.

In the drawings,2 2 represent the draft-arms, between which thedraft-rigging of the car is set, and which are shown in the drawings ashollow castings, though they may be cast of any suitable shape andstrengthened by ribs or anges, if desired. These arms are connected byan integral connecting plate or web 3, which extends horizontally overand at the rear end of the draft-rigging and binds both arms into asingle and strong self-bracing and compact structure. The connectingplate or plates are formed with a shoulder 4, which abuts against theend sill 5 of the car, so that the end sill serves directly to brace andtake up the strain upon. the draft-arms, and from this shoulder theplate extends forwardly under and in contact with the bottom of thesill, thus serving as a chafing-iron to preserve the sill from wear. Thecenter sills 6 6 of the car fit against the marginal portions of theconnecting-plate, and the said plate is formed with longitudinalshoulders 7 7 which t against the inner sides of these sills and bracethe arms laterally. At the front end the draftarms extend forwardly atthe sides of the draw-bar 8, inclining inwardly toward the same andserving the function which in the common construction is performed bythe end portions of the wooden draft-timbers when extended along theouter sides of the draftarms. The draft-timbers 9 9 need extend nofarther forward than the rear end of the draftarms, for the latter haveend sockets 10 10, open at the top and outer side, into which thetimbers fit. By means of vertical bolts 11 and horizontal bolts 12 thetimbers in these sockets can be drawn tightly together, so as topreclude all lateral or Vertical motion of the timbers. The conjoined draft-arms therefore constitute in effect a prolongation of thedrafttimbers, and being alsofconnected together laterally by the web orplate the timbers are tied together, and a very strong and compactconstruction is obtained.

13 is the carry-iron, and 13' is the usual strap or frame bolted to theunder side of the draft-arms.

The draft-arms above described may be employed with springs arranged intandem or side by side or with single springs, and is so claimed.

The draft-arms are provided with opposite lateral recesses B, withinwhich the springfollowers may move, and at the ends of these recessesare shoulders 14 15, which serve as stops or abutments-for thefollowers. I show in Fig. 1 of the drawings two springs or sets ofsprings 16 and 17, arranged side by side, and each of the followers 18and 19 is provided with two spring-sockets C D. Each follower is madeexternally of a shape to fit in the conjoined recesses between thedraft-arms and is a single casting. The walls of the spring-socketsextend toward each other, as shown in Fig. 1, affording an intermediatespace E, within which the followers can'move; but when either followertravels to the limit of that space and engages the wall of the otherfollower it is stopped thereby and its further motion is prevented. Thefollowers therefore act, respectively, as stopping devices for eachother and prevent compression of the springs beyond the desired limit.

The rear end of the draw-bar 8 abuis against the front end of thefollower 18, and a strap 2l extends from the draw-bar under theconnecting plate or web 3 and around and back of the rear follower 19,so as to make connection therewith, though such connection may beconstituted by a tail-bolt, which is the wellknown equivalent of astrap.

In bufting the draw-bar forces back the fol- IOO lower 1S and compressesthe springs against the follower 19, which is then held by the rearshoulders 15 on the draft-arms, and in pulling the strap 21 drawsforward the follower 19 and compresses the springs against the follower18, which is then held by the front shoulders 14 on the draft-arms.

To connect together the draft-arms at the opposite ends of the car, Iemploy a long tiebolt 20, which is attached to a lug 23 at the middlepart of the connected draft-arms and extends thence between the verticalplanes of the center sills to a similar lug on the draftarms at theother end of the car. The strength afforded to the construction in thisway will be readily appreciated by the skilled carbuilder. In thedrawings I show the lug 23, situated at the top of the conjoineddraftarms; but while this location is desirable and is claimed by mespecifically it may be varied by placing the lug at a lower plane.

In Fig. 5 I show in cross-section the application of my invention to asingle springr 17', and in Fig. 6 I show in longitudinal section itsapplication to tandem springs 17, arranged with suitable followers. Theconstruction otherwise will be apparent from the foregoing description.

The connected draft-arms above described may be used in repairingr oldcars as substitutes for draft-arms of the ordinary type. In

such case it is necessary only to remove the old draft-arms, out olf thedraft-timbers to a length proper to enter the sockets 10, and

then lift the double draft-arm casting into place from below.

Within the scope of my invention as claimed herein not only may thedevice be modified in construction, but elements recited in individualclaims may be used.in other combinations, since I regard as new not onlythe construction as a whole, but many of the individual parts thereof aswell.

Instead of casting the draft-arms and connecting plate or web in asingle piece I may within the scope of my broad claims make them inseparate parts and assemble them by bolting or riveting.

I claim- 1. Draft-arms fixed together at the top and having at the rearends shoulders against which the draft-timbers t, said draft-armsextending forwardly from the draft-timbers and constituting a conjoinedcontinuation thereof.

2. Draft-arms having at the top a connecting web or plate, withshoulders adapted to lit between the longitudinal sills of the car,another shoulder adapted to fit against the transverse car-sill, and aportion of the plate extending forwardly under the sill.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

VILLIAM CASE.

'Vitnesses:

T. H. ROBINSON, J. S. CooNLEY.

